Redbreast Irish whiskey recently launched the Redbreast Dream Cask; a limited edition, 32-year old single pot still Irish whiskey single cask to mark World Whisky Day 2018. Here we look at what else the Redbreast family has to offer…
Saturday 19th May 2018 was a significant date – World Whisky Day. And this year Redbreast, the most decorated single pot still Irish whiskey in the world, launched its latest expression, the Dream Cask. Such was the anticipation for this, 32 years in the making, its inventory of just 816 bottles have been selling at a rate of two per minute. So, what is it that makes the Redbreast range special?
Much of Redbreast’s appeal rests with its heritage. For more than a century, Redbreast has stayed true to its single pot still whiskey-making tradition and is widely considered to be the definitive expression of this quintessential style of Irish whiskey.
Redbreast dates back to 1903, when the Jameson family entered into an agreement with Gilbey’s Wines & Spirits Import Company to supply them with new make spirit from their Bow St. Distillery.
The custom of that era was for distilleries to sell spirit to ‘bonders’ who, being in the business of importing fortified wines such as sherry and port, had ample supplies of empty casks in which to mature new-make whiskeys under bond and sell directly to whiskey drinkers. It seemed a natural fit, and would establish Redbreast’s rich, full-bodied flavour profile with a signature sherry influence.
Crafted from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, Redbreast whiskeys are triple distilled in Midleton Distillery’s iconic copper pot stills and matured in a combination of ex-American bourbon barrels and first-fill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, giving Redbreast its trademark ‘Christmas cake’ character, which has made it famous around the world.
Less a whiskey ‘range’, Redbreast refers to its releases as a family. It’s a good analogy; describing each by age or name, with each showing distinct characteristics.
The eldest, the 21-year old, is the role model, the precedent-setter, giving the richest interpretation of Redbreast’s signature sherry style. The 15-year old is the slightly more laid back sibling, mellower but still with depth and complexity. The 12-year old twins are the most outgoing; the signature bottling, full of aroma and flavour, carries a satisfying 40% ABV against the punchier 57.2% of its cask strength brother. And, finally, Redbreast Lustau Edition is finished in first-fill sherry butts seasoned with Oloroso sherry from the prestigious Bodegas Lustau in Jerez, after which it is named.
The 21-year old in particular has been recognized as ‘the second finest whiskey in the world’ by celebrated whiskey writer Jim Murray, cited in his Whisky Bible. And Redbreast consistently sweeps the Irish whiskey category at the world’s leading whiskey tastings.
Little wonder that Redbreast Dream Cask was so popular upon its release – it truly made World Whisky Day 2018 a landmark day in whiskey.
The Redbreast range is available at The Whisky Exchange and all good stockists. For more information, including details of the distillery and its history, visit www.redbreastwhiskey.com.
The Redbreast Birdhouse gives Irish whiskey fans exclusive access to limited edition releases, information on the Redbreast family, interviews from the Midleton Master Distillers and bespoke Redbreast gifting. Redbreast Dream Cask becomes the first in a new series of limited edition Redbreast Irish whiskeys planned for the coming years, that will be sold exclusively through The Redbreast Birdhouse. Click here to visit The Redbreast Birdhouse.
To watch the Redbreast Dream Cask tasting video to celebrate World Whisky Day 2018, please click here.
